Hollandse penning van Jan I, 1296-1299 1298 - 1299

This is a Dutch penny, made between 1296 and 1299 under Jan I, who was the Count of Holland. Born in 1284, Jan I died very young, at only fifteen years old. The coin itself is a potent symbol of power, crafted during a time when the County of Holland was navigating its identity amidst larger European politics. Its small size belies its significance; it represents not just economic exchange but also the assertion of authority and the structuring of social class. On one side, the coin bears the image of Jan I, a visual declaration of his right to rule, and on the other, the emblem of Holland. Consider the weight of this object, not just in grams, but in terms of the historical weight it carried. As currency, this penny would have passed through countless hands, each exchange embedding it further into the economic and social fabric of the time. It serves as a reminder of how deeply systems of power, economics, and identity are interwoven.